Towamensing Township fire company thanks supervisors for donation

Towamensing Township fire chief Wayne Knirnschild visited the supervisors' meeting Thursday to thank them for a donation to the fire company. He promised to send a copy of how the money was spent, but said most of it will probably be needed for new tires for a truck. He said the 20-inch tires are hard to find.

Planning commission member Connie Bieling, speaking for planner Roy Christman who was not attending, said supervisors should provide oversight of the development along Pohopoco Drive because it appears to be moving more dirt than the plan indicated.

Tom Newman, emergency management coordinator, provided an unfinished copy of a newsletter that will go out with the garbage bills. It will have phone numbers for officials, and schedule of events at the fire company, information about the recreation committee and other community information.

It will also contain information about House Bill 1500 which would require all municipalities without their own police force to pay for state police protection. The cost would be (per person living in the township) $52 the first year, $104 the second year and $156 thereafter. Although the bill has come up several times over the past 10 years there was always a limit of affecting only those municipalities with 10,000 or more residents. No increase in service is involved.

Resident Earl Beers said it is simply a new way for "our governor to raise money."

Residents are urged to contact representatives and speak out against the bill.

Newman also announced new Community Emergency Response Team meetings to be held March, 1, 8 and 15; April 5, 12 and 20 or May 3, 10 and 17 in the Emergency Management Building in Nesquehoning. The classes provide basic information about first aid, fire suppression and search and rescue. To register call 570-325-3097.

Richard and Billie Jean Workman of Beltzville Lake Estates received approval to remove a lot line. A home is on one lot and the garage on a second lot. Insurance companies will not insure the garage so a single lot is needed.

The $1,751,112 budget received approval by a 2-1 vote with Supervisor Rodney George voting against it. All taxes remain the same.

Garbage fees are $150 for a family, $100 for a senior couple and $89 for a single senior in 2010.

With the election of Steve Serfass to a judgeship, a new planning solicitor is being sought. If recommendations being made by Serfass are not satisfactory, the position will be advertised.

A thank you letter was received from the Palmerton Area Library for $2,500 which was the 2009 donation.

The end of year meeting will be Dec. 28 at 3 p.m. and the reorganization meeting will be Jan. 4, 5 p.m.

Following an executive session it was decided Anthony Seo will have 30 days to reduce the size of a shed to 1,000 feet and barricade a sliding glass door. He will then be issued a building permit for a storage shed.

Seo said he is still bound by a stop work order, but supervisors said they would be the ones to enforce the order and will not do so if he is performing the required work.

When Seo requested that in writing, supervisors said Jacob Troost, UCC inspector, will remove the stop work order.

Josh Roderick said water is still running across his property in Beltzville Lake Estates preventing him from installing a septic system. The cause is an artesian well on a neighboring property. The landowner did "put a patch on it," according to Supervisor Penny Kleintop who visited the site, but it was insufficient and needs capping at a cost of $1,000.

Resident Curt Beers said Roderick and the other neighbors affected should get together and provide the capping. Roderick has a $250,000 house he cannot complete with the septic system until the water is controlled.

Kleintop said he should have Keith Lothier, a well driller, inspect the property, but Roderick did not seem inclined to do so.